Chang Hwan Ryu

The prognostic value of hypoxia markers in T2-staged oral tongue cancer

Tumor hypoxia is associated with poorer outcome in patients with head and neck carcinomas, but little is known about hypoxia biomarkers in oral tongue cancer. We evaluated whether hypoxia biomarkers and clinicopathologic variables were prognostic predictors in patients with T2-staged squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral tongue. Tissue microarrays were constructed from formalin-fixed tumor blocks of 43 patients with T2-staged tongue SCCs treated by surgical resection and neck dissection. Tissue samples were stained with monoclonal antibodies to hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha, HIF-2alpha, carbonic anhydrase (CA)-9, glucose transporter (GLUT)-1, and erythropoietin receptor (EPOR). Locoregional control and survival rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and prognostic factors were calculated from uni- and multivariate analyses. Tumor thickness was correlated with expression of CA-9 and GLUT-1 and nodal classification was correlated with GLUT-1 expression. The nodal metastasis rate was 51%, and the 5-year locoregional control and disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were 59% and 69%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that HIF-1alpha and EPOR expression were significantly related to DSS. Multivariate analysis showed that EPOR expression was an independent predictor of DSS (P=0.030). EPOR expression may be an independent predictor for DSS in patients with T2-staged SCC of the oral tongue.

Removal of a metallic foreign body embedded in the external nose via open rhinoplasty approach

Most metallic foreign bodies are inert, but they can cause chronic inflammatory reactions and be a source of infection. Identification and removal of foreign bodies from wounds is often necessary. The present report describes two cases of a foreign body embedded in the external nose. Each case was successfully treated by an open rhinoplasty approach. This approach is an effective and safe method for removal of foreign bodies in the external nose. It provides a good surgical field and a better cosmetic outcome than a conventional incision.

Voice Changes in Elderly Adults: Prevalence and the Effect of Social, Behavioral, and Health Status on Voice Quality

To estimate the prevalence of dysphonia and the effect of several risk factors on vocal quality in a representative population of older adults.

Synovial Sarcoma of the Thyroid Gland

Primary synovial sarcoma of the thyroid is an extremely rare condition which has only been reported twice in the literature. We herein report a case of highly aggressive and rapidly lethal primary synovial sarcoma of the thyroid. A 72-year-old woman presented with extensive local invasion, rapid progression, and early distant metastasis secondary to primary thyroid synovial sarcoma. The tumor exhibited an atypical histologic and immunohistochemical staining pattern. Detection of SYT/SSX fusion transcript confirmed the diagnosis of synovial sarcoma. Due to the aggressive nature of primary synovial sarcoma of the thyroid gland, early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment including wide resection and postoperative chemoradiation is required.

Quantitative evaluation of vocal‐fold mucosal irregularities using GLCM‐based texture analysis

Visualization of the vocal folds is essential when reaching a primary diagnosis of laryngeal disease. However, the examination is subjective and highly dependent on the experience of the treating physician. The present study is the development of objective tools for the diagnosis of laryngeal malignancy based on laryngeal texture analysis.

Abstract 3348: Inhibition of MDMX by XI-011 induces p53-mediated apoptosis in head and neck cancer.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Overexpression of MDM2 or MDMX inactivates the tumor-suppressive function of p53. Restoration of p53 function counteracting these p53 repressors can lead to in vivo tumor regression. Therefore, we evaluated whether the restoration of p53 function by a small-molecule p53 activator XI-011, a pseudouria derivative NSC146109, induce apoptosis in head-and-neck cancer (HNC). The effects of XI-011 treatment in four HNC cell lines were tested, individually or in combination with nutlin-3a, an inhibitor of MDM2-p53 interactions, and its growth suppression, cell-cycle arrest, and apoptosis were assessed. XI-011 induced accumulation and reactivation of p53 in a wild-type TP53-bearing HNC cell line. XI-011 showed maximal growth suppression in tumor cells with overexpression of MDMX and MDMX-dependent p53 degradation. With down-regulation of MDMX mRNA and protein levels, XI-011 upregulated expression of p21 and proapoptotic genes and promoted apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Notably, the apoptotic response was blocked by inhibition of p53 or MDMX gene expression, demonstrating the p53 and MDMX dependence of XI-011 effects. XI-011 decreased the viability of HNC cells expression low levels of MDMX in a less-efficient manner. Interestingly, in combination therapy, XI-011 synergistically acted with nutlin-3a to inhibit growth of HNC cells. Our data suggest that the MDMX inhibition and p53 functional restoration by XI-011 effectively induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in cancer cells, an action that may offer a promising strategy for treating HNC. Citation Format: In Sun Ryu, Chang Hwan Ryu, Hyun Bae Park, Eunhye Kim, Jong-Lyel Roh. Inhibition of MDMX by XI-011 induces p53-mediated apoptosis in head and neck cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3348. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-3348

Abstract 1768: Enhanced cytotoxicity and apoptosis of cisplatin by p53-reactivating small molecule RITA in head and neck cancer

Overexpression of MDM2 inactivates the tumor suppressive function of p53 and a small-molecule reactivation of p53 and induction of tumor cell apoptosis (RITA) disrupts the MDM2-p53 interaction. We evaluated whether the restoration of p53 function by RITA enhances cytotoxicity and apoptosis of cisplatin in head-and-neck cancer (HNC). RITA was tested in four human HNC cell lines differing in TP53 status. In vitro and in vivo growth suppression, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis after RITA treatment individually or in combination with cisplatin were assessed. RITA induced prominent accumulation and reactivation of p53 in a wild-type TP53-bearing tumor cell line. RITA showed maximal growth suppression in tumor cells showing MDM2-dependent p53 degradation. RITA upregulated p21, BAX, and cleavage of caspase-3 but the p53-dependent apoptosis was blocked by pifithrin-μ. Strong induction of apoptosis rather than G2-phase arrest was observed along with increased dose of RITA. In combination therapy, RITA enhanced the growth inhibition and apoptosis of HNC by cisplatin in vitro and in vivo. Our data suggest that the restoration of p53 tumor suppressive function by RITA enhances cytotoxicity and apoptosis of cisplatin, which may offer an attractive strategy for treating HNC. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1768. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1768